Craft Guilds This is Lesson 23 1 Put

Craft Guilds This is Lesson 23. 1. Put your heading on your paper. 2. Add this lesson to your NB Checklist 3. Open your book to page 406.

Around the 1100’s, merchants, artisans, and workers formed guilds = business groups whose purpose was to make sure that their members were treated equally AND that quality products were produced. Each craft had its own guild. - Some examples of craft guilds were carpenters, shoemakers, blacksmiths, masons, tailors, and weavers.

The Shoemakers’ Guild (Shoemakers were called chaucers. )

The Coopers’ Guild

The Weavers’ Guild

The Goldsmiths’ Guild

The Clothemakers’ Guild

The Sculptor’s Guild

guilds = business groups whose purpose was to make sure that their members were treated equally AND that quality products were produced

Guilds Controlled the Working Conditions: 1. Guild members were not allowed to compete with one another. 2. They were not allowed to advertise. 3. Each member had to work the same # of hours. 4. Business owners had to hire the same # of workers. 5. Workers had to be paid the same wages.

Guilds Controlled Business and Trade in a Town: 1. Only guild members could buy, sell, or make goods in the town. 2. Outsiders needed permission to conduct business in the town. 3. Guilds decided on a fair price for a product or service. All members had to charge the set price. 4. Guild members who sold poorly made products or cheated in business dealings had to pay large fines or might even be expelled from the guild.

Guilds Were More Than Just Business/Trade Groups: 1. Sick members were taken care of by the guild. 2. Out of work members received food from the guild. 3. When a guild member died, living guild members paid for the funeral and supported the family. 4. Guilds became centers for friendship and social life by sponsoring celebrations, processions, and outdoor plays.

Becoming a Guild Member • Step #1: Apprentice or trainee 1. 2 to 7 years of training. 2. Taught by a master or expert. 3. Apprentices had to live with and obey their masters. Step #2: Journeyman 1. Worked with a master for a daily wage. 2. Journeymen had to make and present a “masterpiece” to prove their skill. 3. Those who passed, were considered masters.